Cell Phone Policy

In a survey conducted in 2001, no school banned mobiles. By 2007, this had risen to 50%, and by 2012 some 98% of schools either did not allow phones on school premises or required them to be handed in at the beginning of the day.

“Ill Communication: The Impact of Mobile Phones on Student Performance” found that after schools banned mobile phones, the test scores of students aged 16 improved by 6.4%.” They found that not only did student achievement improve, but also that low-achieving and low-income students gained the most. They found the impact of banning phones for these students was equivalent to an additional hour a week in school, or to increasing the school year by five days. There is also growing concern about the long-term impact of cell phone/technology use on brain development and healthy social emotional development.

In the interest of the our students health, safety, and education, we will be making a change to our current CMS cell phone policy for the upcoming 2017-18 school year. With the addition of new, better functioning, lockers, we will require every student to leave his or her phone secure in their locker.

Currently our students are allowed to carry but not use their phone in the building between 8:05 and 3:20. However, this policy is proving hard for students to follow and adults to manage.

Next Year, students must keep their phones in their lockers or at home between 8:05 and 3:20. This will decrease the use of phones in class, hallways, and at lunch/recess. We feel this decision will support our goal to build and maintain a positive school culture and community for our students as like many schools in the U.S., we are struggling with school bullying and student distraction. Moreover, with one to one chromebooks, there is no longer a need for personal technology. Click Here for our Student Handbook Policy.

We realize this decision may make some families nervous, however, as always, front office and class phones are available as needed. Furthermore, parents can communicate to their child any time of day through the front office.

We appreciate your support. If you have any concerns regarding this change, please feel free to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 970-384-5701.